Flexible grate



u8 6, 1929. B. F. FLr-:MING 1,723,775

FLEXIBLE GRATE Filed June 20, 1928 2 Sheets-Smet l Inventor B. F.FLEMING FLEXIBLE GRATE Aug. 6,1929.

Filed June 2o. 1928 *2 sneetsfsneet Cil Patented Aug. 6, 1929.

UNITED STATES BERTHA FRANCES FLEMING, OF VINELAND, NEW JERSEY.

FLEXIEBLE GRATE.

Application filed `Tune 20,

The present invention relates to improvements in grates for furnaces andthe like and has reference more particularly to an auxiliary grate fordisposition on top of the fire grate arranged in the lire box of afurnace, whereby small fuel, such as buckwheat coal may be properlysupported for burning. Y

further object is to provide an auxiliary grate of the above mentionedcharacter which includes a plurality of pivotally con nected separatebars or links, the same being of such construction as to permit theproper circulation of air through the grate so as to aid combustion.

Still a further object is to provide an auxiliary grate that will permitof the usual rocking operation' of the grate bars for shaking the coal.

Still a further object is to provide an auxiliary grate of the abovementioned character, which is simple in construction, inexpensive,strong and durable, 'and further well adapted to the purpose for whichit is designed.

`Other objects of the invention will become apparent during the courseof the following detailed description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, form ing a part of this application.

.ln the accompanying drwings, wherein like reference charactersdesignate like parts throughout the several views;

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the auxiliary grate embodying myinvention.

Figure 2 is a central vertical section through the iire box of afurnace, showing my auxiliary grate positioned on top of theconventional fire grate.

Figure 3 is a sectional view, taken approximately on the line of Figure'1.

Figure 11 is a side elevation of one of the bars or links employed toconstruct f the auxiliary grate embodying my invention.

Figure 5 is a sectional view, taken on the line 5 5 of Figure L1, and

Figure G is a side elevation of one of the end lugs or bars.

ln the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown thepreferred em.- hodiment of my invention, the numeral designates the tirebox portion of a vfurnace of any well known or preferred construction,and in which fire box is supported the usual grate designated by thenumeral 2, the

1928. semi No. essere mechanism for actuating or rocking the grate notbeing shown.

It is impossible to burn small fuel such as buckwheat coal, in a furnacew`th the ordinary grate construction, and therefore I have devised anauxiliary grate for rest upon the conventional grate in the `lire box ofthe furnace to properly support such small fuel whereby the same will beburned eiliciently in the furnace, and suoli fuel will not be apt topass through the grate bars into the ash pit in an unburned condition.

My improved auxiliary grate.; is designated generally by the numeral 3.The auxiliary grate comprises a plurality. of substantially rectangularshaped links or bars L1-, and smaller end links or bars 5. Each of thelinks or bars et comprises an elongated flat body that has its upperedge serrated as illustrated at 6, while the lower edge of theintermediate portion of thev body is cut out at 7, to form an airpassage. Parallel spaced vertically disposed ribs 8 are formed on eachside of the body at the intermediate portion thereof to provide verticalair channels or passagesy 9 as shown very clearly in Figures 1 and 5 ofthe drawings.

Enlarged bosses 10 are formed on one side of the body of each link orbar 4- at the respective end portions thereof. Notched bosses 11 areformed on opposite sides of the body of each link or bar ll, with therespective bossesV 10 and each link or bar 4 is formed with thetransverse openings 12 at the respective end portions thereofk and these`openings extend through the bosses as indicated very clearly in Figure5.

Each of the end links or bars 5, comprises a flat body having its loweredge cut away as at 13. The upper edge of each end link or bar is alsoserrated as at 14, with reference more particularly to Figure 6, andformed on the opposite faces of therbody of each end link or baradjacentthe smaller end thereof are the vertically disposed ribs 15. Aboss 16 similar to the boss 10k is formed on one side of each end linkor bar 5, adjacent the larger end thereof, and a notched boss 17 isformed on the other side of each end link or bar, in alignment with theboss 16. The larger end portion of each end link or bar is formed with atransverse opening 18 and the bosses are also apertured forcommunication with the opening 18.

As more clearly suggested in Figure 1, the

links or bars constituting my improved auxili: y 1ate are arranged inspaced rows, the links or bars in one row being disposed in sta geredrelation with respect to the links or oars of the adjacent row. Thelinks or bars l are so positioned as to have the bosses lO disposed inabutting engagement with the notched bosses of the adjacent links orbars, an(L an elongated threaded bolt 19 is adapted to pass through theregistering openings l2 of the links or bars fl. A washer f2.0 arrangedon each bolt for spacing the head with respect to the links or bars 4,at one side of the grate, a similar washer 22 being removably disposedover the other end of each bolt for engagen'ient with the outer sides ofthe links or bars at the other side of the grate, and the free endportion of each bolt is formed with a transverse opening to accommodatea. cotter pin 23, whereby to properly secure the links or bars on theseveral headed bolts and this construction provides a means whereby thepivotal connection is provided between the adjacent ends of the severallinks or bars.

rlhe endmost links or bars 5 have their aoertured ends arranged on theendmost bolts and are disposed between the spaced endmost links or bars5, as clearly shown in Figure l.

lilhile I have shown the grate as being substantially rectangular inshape, it is to be understood that I do not wish to limit myself` to theparticular shape of the auxiliary grate, the shape of said auxiliarygrate depending upon the particular type of furnace and grate with whichthe present invention is to be associated.

lVhen the parts are assembled in the manner as shown in Figure l, theauxiliary grate can be placed in the fire box l for rest upon the gratebars of the conventional grate structure 2 and the end portions of thelinks or bars 4rwill rest on the grate bars of the ordinary gratestructure as will also the inner end portions of the end links or barsand the cut out portions 7 and 13 will form air channels to provide theproper circulation of air beneath the auxiliary grate 3. Furthermore,the ribs formed on the links or bars will afford a means to permit thecirculation of air upwardly through the auxiliary furnace grate, wherebyto aid in the combustion of the small fuel placed on the auxiliarygrate, and this auxiliary grate will prevent the small fuel, such asbiiclm'lieat coal or the like from falling through the grate into theash pit without having first been burned.

By constructing an auxiliary grate in the manner as shown and described,the same will be automatically rocked for shaking the small coal whenthe grate bars of the conventional grate structure 2 are rocked, by theusual rocking mechanism, not disclosed.

The simplicity of my improved auxiliary grate enables the several linksor bars to be readily assembled or disassembled, and should any one ofthe links or bars become broken, the same can be replaced with a new oneat a minimum cost, thus obviating the necessity of having to discard theauxiliary grate in case of breakage of one or more of the links or barsconstituting said auxiliary grate.

.lilliile l have shown the preferred embodi ment of my invention, it isto be understood that various changes in the size, shape and arrangementof parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of theinvention or the scope of the appended claims.

l claim:

l. rthe combination with a furnace enr bodying a fire box and its grate,of a flexible auxiliary grate comprising a plurality of interconnectedunits resting upon the furnace grate to support small coal and capableof rocking movement when the furnace grate is rocked.

2. The combination with a furnace embodying a fire box and .its grate,of a flexibleauxiliary grate for rest upon the furnace grate to supportsmall coal and capable of rocking movement when the furnace grate isrocked, said flexible grate comprising a plurality of separate linksarranged in spaced rows, the links in one row being arranged instaggered relation with respect to the links in the adjacent row, andmeans for pivotally connecting the adjacent ends of the links in theadjacent rows together.

3. The combination with a furnace embodying a lire box and its grate, ofa flexible auxiliary grate for rest upon the furnace grate to supportsmall coal and capable of rocking movement when the Jfurnace grate isrocked, said. flexible grate comprising a plurality of separate linksarranged in spaced rows, the links in one row being arranged instaggered relation with respect to the links in the adjacent row, meansfor pivotally connecting the adjacent ends of the links in the adjacentrows together, each of said links being constructed to provide airpassages.

Ll. The combination with a furnace embodying a re box and its grate, ofa tlexible auxiliary grate for rest upon the furnace grate to supportsmall coal and capable of rocking movement when the furnace grate isrocked, said flexible grate comprising a plurality of separate linksarranged in spaced rows, the links in one row being arranged instaggered relation with respect to the links in the adjacent row, meansfor pivotally connecting the adjacent ends of the links in the adjacentrows together, each of said links being cut out at its lower edge toprovide horizontal air passages.

5. rlhe combination with a furnace embodying a fire box and its grate,of a flexible auxiliary grate for rest upon the furnace grate to supportsmall coal and capable of rocking movement when the furnace grate isrocked, said flexible gra-te comprising a plurality of separate linksarranged in spaced rows, the links in one row being arranged instaggered relation with respect to the links in the adjacent row, meansfor pivotally connecting the adjacent ends of the links in the adjacentrows together, each of said links being cut out at its lower edge toprovide horizontal air passages, and ribs arranged vertically on theside faces of the links to provide vertical air passages.

G. The combination with a furnace embodying a fire box and its grate, ofa liexible auxiliary grate for rest upon the urnace grate to supportsmall coal and capable of rocking movement when the furnace grate isrocked, said flexible grate comprising a plurality of separate linksarranged in spaced rows, the links in one row being arranged instaggered relation with respect to the links in the adjacent rows, andmeans for pivotally connecting theadjacent ends of the links in theadjacent rows together, each of said links comprising a flat body, theupper edge thereof being serrated, the

klower edge being cut out to provide an air passage, said body beingprovided with a pivot bolt receiving opening, and bosses on oppositesides of the body around said openinv.

n testimony whereof I affix my signature.

BERTHA FRANCES FLEMING.

